The wizards in Reccordak were suddenly growing in number. Epherene, who was currently studying in the library, didn't know why. This was Reccordak. Their provisions had been cut off by the Altar and the Demon Blood, so why would people come here? Yet there were five or six new people every day, sometimes even as many as ten.
"…"
Epherene quietly looked around the library. There were many new faces aside from the Imperial wizards who had been there from the start.
"…Uhm, excuse me."
Tap, tap—
Epherene flinched and looked back.
"Yes?"
"By any chance, did you finish reading that…?"
The male wizard pointed to the book on Epherene's desk: [Magic of Probability: An In-Depth View]. It was Deculein's writing consisting of the foundation, basics, and an in-depth explanation of the concept of probability in magic.
"Oh, yes. I'm almost done."
"Then, the next one is…"
"There's no specific order. I'll lend it to you once I'm done."
"Thank you."
There weren't many books in the underground library of Reccordak's main building as most of them were in Deculein's mansion. Therefore, there were only four bookshelves, all of which held Deculein's latest writings. [Magic of Probability], [Magical Analysis of Phenomenon], [Action-Derived Techniques], and more…
There were 340 books total, including the seventeen copies of ones he wrote while in the North.
"…Did you come here for this?"
But the wizards that Epherene knew weren't intense enough to abandon their safety to come to Reccordak. At that moment, she noticed a robed wizard. She quickly hid between the shelves, but Epherene could tell who it was.
Striking blonde hair like pure gold could only mean one person: Sylvia.
"…That girl."
Well, when it came to books, her eyes would light up. Epherene smiled a little but pretended not to notice her. She continued studying. Until the next wave arrived…
"Haaaaaaaam—"
Epherene yawned and glanced around. Of course, Deculein told her to rest only in front of him, whether napping or sleeping, but was that so easy? Epherene was slowly falling as-
—I knew this would happen.
"…!"
Epherene jumped up at the sudden voice.
"Huh! Is this a dream?!"
Everyone in the library looked to Epherene. There was no response from the wood steel. She didn't think it was a dream, but what was that voice just now?
"What…"
—Here.
Epherene jumped once more and looked over to the mirror on top of the desk. Deculein's face was reflected on the glassy surface.
"Pro… Professor, how did you…"
—How many times have I told you that you shouldn't sleep when you're alone?
"I didn't sleep, I just yawned-"
—This is a warning.
"…Yes."
Epherene nodded sullenly.
*****
Julie visited the dungeon field. Less than ten days after sowing seeds, the barley fields had somehow already yielded food.
"Oh my~. You're here, Ms. Knight!"
The residents stopped what they were doing and approached her as she glanced over the abundant fields.
"It's growing without any trouble."
The biggest problem in Reccordak was food, as expected. As their provisions were cut off and the number of enemies increased, even hunting had grown quite difficult, but seeing the barley growing made her feel safer.
"Yeah. With this much, we'll be able to harvest a lot. Even the seeds are big."
"…Yes, thank you for your hard work."
"Eyy~, what are you talking about? We have to eat so we can survive, too."
Looking at the residents smiling brightly like this, Julie felt warm but sad at the same time. Would she be able to protect them? Could she maintain their homes with her body? If only she could…
"Hi~."
A voice from behind the tree cut off her thoughts.
"Oh! Leader?"
It was Red Garnet's Ganesha, the hero who slowed down the migration by herself.
"Nice to see you, Leader of the Red Garnet-"
"Enough with that kind of greeting~; it's embarrassing."
She smiled brightly and walked closer.
"I heard the rumors~ that Deculein buried dozens of Demon Blood alive."
"…Yes."
Julie bowed her head.
"Is he certain that all of them are Demon Blood?"
She was once again disappointed by how Deculein handled this matter. She thought there was no way she could be further upset by the man, but Deculein always found new ways.
"…Even if they were Demon Blood, burying them alive is not right. But, I already knew that the Professor was that kind of person."
Without verifying if they were Demon Blood or not, without meticulous investigation or understanding, forty humans were buried alive. Hanging them instead would've been less horrible. Burying alive, on par with burning someone alive, was the cruelest death penalty. Even the Empire abolished it as a method of execution.
"Yeah, I can tell from your expression. Anyhow, you asked Reylie to do something last time, right?"
"…What?"
"I heard you gave some money to Reylie to hire some adventurers."
"Yes, I did, but for Leader Ganesha-"
"Eyy, if you asked Reylie, then you have asked me as well. Also, I like Knight Julie~. Dozmura?"
She looked back as she spoke. Then, one of her members appeared from the shadows. Dozmura, one of the founding members of the Red Garnet Adventurers, handed Julie an envelope.
"That mission was completed by this guy. The findings of the investigation suggest that Veron was murdered by Deculein, and Rockfell's death is quite suspicious, but there was nothing conclusive."
"…"
Julie flipped through the envelope, her heart-stopping for a moment.
"Rockfell's… diary."
"Yeah, that's right. In addition, these are letters he exchanged with someone. All of his conversations with his family are stored in the crystal. His son and daughter were eight and seven years old, respectively.
Rockfell's letter was simple. He was being chased by someone, and he needed help. He thought Deculein was trying to kill him… Julie held it tight to her chest. This wasn't something to be checked indifferently by an outside source.
"Thank you."
"Yeah. So, what are you going to do now?"
Ganesha smiled as she asked. Julie shook her head.
"I still don't know. I want to know, but I don't. I understand why he hates me. But, Rockfell and Veron, why…"
She clenched her fists and bit her lower lip.
"When I find out everything… even if it's Professor Deculein, I will make him pay for his sins… I definitely will."
Ganesha gave Julie a serious look.
"I'll also find out later~."
For Ganesha, Deculein was no longer an awful and cold-blooded being who wasn't picky about his methods. No, he was a man who loved his family more than anyone else.
"…Don't struggle too much~. Otherwise, you won't have enough strength to use your body."
Julie stiffened.
"Yes, I understand."
Ganesha's return meant that the time she had been delaying had arrived.
*****
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
The drum rang, and the monsters marched forward, their ranks stretching into the horizon.
Schwaaaaa—!
Arrows blotted the sky above Reccordak. Numerous destructive spells reached out to join them, and an empowering wind swirled around the knights on the battlefield.
"There's nothing to be afraid of! There are wizards on the barrier!"
Knight Derek encouraged his men. Just as he said, thanks to the numerous wizards that joined them, there were many people in Reccordak. Until their mana was exhausted, the barrier wouldn't collapse. Tactical weapons specialized in siege warfare: that was what a wizard was for.
Boom—!
A giant monster hidden in the winter fog appeared. It was an Ogre, standing tall over the walls with a club nearly as big as him.
"We need supporting magic! The enemy is an ogre!"
Julie shouted. The wizards' bombardment concentrated on the ogre in response.
Dadadadadadadada—!
Several destructive spells filled the air in a combination of fire and wind.
Schwaaaaa—!
A pillar of fire wrapped around the ogre's abdomen.
■■■■■─!
The monster let out a deafening shriek, raising his massive club.
Smaaaaaaash—!
It went flying like a boomerang toward the wall. The wizards manning the barrier were so surprised that they could do nothing but watch as it crested toward them…
Clang—!
Until the wood steel blocked its course, the sharp metal spread out like a net, carving apart the club mid-air. Right afterward, the nineteen pieces of steel burrowed into the ground.
Schwaaaa—
A dark blue flash of light pierced the beast, controlled by an arrogant wizard atop the barrier. Deculein.
He, taking part in the war while surveying the area, calculated the scale of this enemy with his eyes, then closed his eyes. He focused his mana and mind on expanding the magic.
Goooooo…
There was an unusual vibration. The knights, sensing danger, stepped back for a while. Then, at the very next moment.
"…!"
The ground was ripped into pieces. To be more precise, the surface was divided. A large hole opened up to swallow the ranks of monsters.
"What…?"
"Oh my!"
The knights pressed against the edge of the barrier.
Guuuuuuuugh—!
The cause of the hole was Psychokinesis, which was still only at the intermediate-level. But, it was the most efficient magic in the world, incorporating all of Deculein's theories. Its power seemed to be tearing the ground apart…
No, it was tearing it apart.
—!
The enemies' numbers, once filling the horizon, had been reduced to less than half.
"…"
Derek wore a stupefied expression as he looked up at Deculein. He was calm as his coat fluttered in the wind like this was as easy as taking a stroll.
"Seriously… there's a reason for his confidence. Everyone! Get ready!"
Derek shouted and readied his sword. Now that their front lines had been destroyed, they needed to mop up the rest…
*****
Late at night, when the battle had come to a brief halt, a bonfire was burning at the edge of the wall.
"…Are there any injured?"
Julie was busily moving about, looking for injured people. Knights had a bad habit of trying to hide their wounds…
"Don't move; you're injured."
Then, Syrio spoke up. Julie quickly approached him.
"Who is it? We have medicinal herbs."
Syrio laughed.
"The injured person is over there, there. I'm talking about you."
"I'm fine. It's nothing big."
"…Don't lie to me."
Julie handed out medicinal herbs to him without responding. Syrio shook his head.
"I don't need them."
"…"
"You won't be able to endure it. Your speed of mana recovery won't be able to keep up with the pace of the battle, and your fatigue will accumulate. You're already contaminated."
"…"
Gwen moved beside him. Though she was also worn out, she agreed with Syrio.
"I won't tell you to run away. I know you won't. But, you have to take care of yourself. I think this will last for about a month."
"Okay. Thank you for your concern. But…"
Julie closed her eyes for a moment.
—That moment.
"Are you okay…?"
The landscape changed. Julie looked around vacantly. She wasn't in the North, but some dark corridor.
"Where in the world is this…?"
Someone's voice cut through the hesitation she felt.
"You're here, too."
An inorganic voice. Julie looked back.
"…Lady Iliade?"
Iliade's successor, Sylvia, glared at her.
"I'm not glad to see you in the Voice."
*****
Meanwhile, I was walking through the corridors of the Voice with Epherene by my side.
"Uhm, I don't have enough mana. I used it all to block the migration."
"…"
"By the way, what was that magic, Professor? The ground was split in half."
Epherene chattered, but I didn't even have the strength to answer. What I achieved by using Psychokinesis in the battle today was quite taxing even for me.
"Professor, how about hosting classes in Reccordak? There are a lot of wizards looking for you. I want to attend, too."
"You're so noisy."
"…No."
Epherene pouted, sulking.
Step, step.
Step, step.
We walked down the corridor in silence, but before long, Epherene broke that quiet.
"By the way, where are we going? You can at least tell me that."
"…There are many places in the Voice. It's also very wide. But…"
I stopped in front of an alley with a sign marked [Tavern].
"Firstly, we will go to that tavern."
"Why?"
"You'll find out when we get there."
This was the pattern of the Voice's conquest. First, go to a tavern, get a quest, and go on an adventure.
"Follow me."
"…Yes."
We headed to the tavern, soon reaching a door. The moment I opened it, loud shouts, chattering, and the smell of alcohol came flooding past us. I could endure that much.
"…Professor?"
I stood still, hand gripping the doorknob.
"What are you doing?"
Epherene, behind me, posed the question.
"Professor? If you don't go in, I can't go in. Are you going in?"
"…Ehem."
I feigned a cough and checked the heads of those inside instead. Two heads, one white and one yellow. Julie and Sylvia.
I was certain.
"What are you doing, Professor? Are you going in or not…"
I closed the door again and turned to regard Epherene.
"…Don't move. I'm doing this because I have an idea."
"…Okay, I'm sorry."
Epherene looked down. I stood in front of the door and started thinking. Sylvia was one thing, but Julie was with her. Something must have tangled up in the progress of the story or the process of the quest…
"…Forget it."
But first of all, whatever it may be, this tavern was my top priority. Even if it was Julie, avoiding people didn't suit my personality.
"Let's go in."
"Yes."
I swung the door open.